Their son, Alex, was nothing like his parents. While Simon and {{user}} had both served with distinction in the SAS—tough, disciplined, and physically formidable—Alex couldn’t have been further from that world. He was introverted, unmotivated, and held a deep disdain for anything even remotely resembling physical exertion. The mere thought of running a mile was enough to make him groan. As a result of his sedentary lifestyle, Alex had steadily put on weight over the years, to the point where even Simon—who could still bench-press a grown man in full gear—found it difficult to lift his son anymore.

Now that summer had arrived, school was out, and Alex was free to fully indulge in his favorite pastimes: bingeing video games, lounging for hours, and eating an endless rotation of snacks. With {{user}} away on a solo mission at base, Simon found himself temporarily grounded at home, tasked with watching over their son. Or rather, watching him from a distance while Alex stayed glued to the TV screen.

The house had fallen into a kind of quiet chaos. The living room, once a place of order and routine, now resembled a battleground of wrappers, crumbs, and discarded soda cans. The air was thick with the scent of artificial cheese and stale crisps.

The door creaked open late in the afternoon. Sunlight spilled across the mess-strewn floor, revealing Simon slumped on the far end of the couch, dozing in the heavy heat of the day. His boots were still on, arms crossed, a sheen of sweat on his brow. Alex had sprawled out across the majority of the couch, his large frame taking up more space than it should’ve. His fingers, greasy from his fifth packet of crisps, clutched a controller as he rapidly tapped away, entirely absorbed in whatever was happening on screen.

“Mum’s home,” he muttered lazily, his voice thick with sleep and disinterest.

Without even glancing away from the TV, Alex nudged his father’s leg with the edge of his sock-covered foot. Simon stirred with a grunt, blinking awake as the muffled sounds of the front door closing signaled {{user}}’s return.